Shop Safe

Tis’ the season for online shopping! Unfortunately, that means it is also the season for hackers and other unsavory online characters to attack your computer and personal information from afar.

With so much money changing hands, it is no wonder that we tend to see an increase in the number of identity theft cases this time of year. We can’t stress just how important it is to stay vigilant, and keep an eye on your finances and bank account information during the holidays.

All I want for Christmas is to keep my identity safe, and I want to help keep yours safe too.

Online Safety Tips

At Joyce, Jackman & Bell Insurors we want to keep all of clients protected. The best way to keep your identity safe is to stay vigilant. That means monitoring your bank account and credit card statements for any fraudulent charges or activity.

Here are a few more tips:

HTTPS://ß Only buy from websites with an “S” following the typical http:// URL. The “S” stands for secure socket layer and ensures that it is safe to submit your information. Some browsers help to designate these sites with a little lock symbol in the address bar.

Do not respond to email (or text message) requests for your private account information – Yes, many of these requests look legit, they probably even use your bank’s letter head and/or logo, but odds are your bank would not email you asking for sensitive information to be shared over an unsecure network. Instead, call your bank or financial information to verify the request.

Limit your credit card use to one – Designate one credit card for online use. This way you only have to monitor one account statement for unusual activity. If you suspect something suspicious, contact the card issuer and ask for a review of your account.